Major publisher secures a deal for Sir David Jason’s showbusiness memoir

The actor Sir David Jason has signed a deal to publish his memoir after almost half a century in the entertainment world.

Publisher Random House expects the 72-year-old’s autobiography to be a best seller when it hits bookshelves in the run-up to the lucrative Christmas period in two years’ time.

The firm has acquired the world rights for his book, which Sir David said would allow him to “share the journey” of his life with fans.

Sir David – knighted in 2005 – has become one of the best-loved figures on TV for his high profile roles in series such as Only Fools And Horses and A Touch Of Frost, as well as his role as Pop Larkin in the TV adaptation of The Darling Buds Of May.

He began his TV career in 1964 with a role as Bert Bradshaw in the soap Crossroads.

Sir David said: “I’m delighted to have found a publisher who shares my ambition for my autobiography. Random House have shown true enthusiasm for this project from day one and I can’t wait to work with Ben [Dunn, of Random House] and his team.”

Ben Dunn, the publishing director of Random imprint Century, said: “Like so many millions of Brits, I grew up watching and listening, laughing and crying to David’s on-screen genius – from Del Boy to Dangermouse to Detective Inspector Jack Frost, his canon of work is unsurpassed and I am truly honoured to be publishing a memoir that I have no doubt will be as golden as everything else he’s touched.”

The hardback version will come out in the autumn of 2014, with a paperback the following year.